Throwing disc employing raised aerodynamic sections



A ril 4, 1967 'R. A. KERR 3,312,472

THROWING DISC EMPLOYING RAISED AERODYNAMIC SECTIONS FiledJuly 5, 1963 INVEN TOR Rober'tA iferr ATTORNEY xm ailw United States Patent 3,312,472THROWING DISC EMPLOYING RAISED AERODYNAMIC SECTIONS Robert A. Kerr, 1479Pottstown Pike,

- West Chester, Pa. 19380 Filed July 5, 1963, Ser. No. 293,040 2 Claims.(Cl. 273-106) This invention relates to a device and more particularlyto a game device that is adapted to be thrown or tossed at or toward afixed peg or post with the objective of having the device settle overand around the peg or post.

The invention has as an object the provision of a game device which maybe readily grasped by a player and tossed or thrown toward a fixed pegor post partially embedded in and extending vertically from a base, suchas the ground. Another object is the provision of a game device to whichmay be imparted a spinning motion during its flight and which maintainsa substantially horizontal position during flight and final landing. Afurther object is the provision of a game device which greatly reducesskidding or bouncing when it lands on the ground or other base. A stillfurther object is the provision of a game device which is formed orshaped and decorated to simulate Flying Saucer or an outerspaceaircraft. Other objects will become apparent as the description of theinvention proceeds.

These objects are accomplished by means of a rigid or semi-rigid annulardisc constructed or fabricated with projected or elevated sections onboth top and bottom surfaces of the disc, the wall of the projected orelevated sections being at an angle to the horizontal surface of thedisc, said sections following the general circular contour of the discand comprising only a portion of the total surface area of the disc.

Referring now to the attached drawings which illustrate the invention:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the top of the annular disc showing theposition of the angular walled, elevated area and its approximate sizein relation to the top surface of the main body area of the disc;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of the disc illustrating the angularwalls of the elevated areas on both surfaces of the disc body;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the bottom of the annular disc showing theposition of the bottom angular walled, elevated area and its approximatesize in relation to the bottom surface of the main body area of thedisc;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the top surface of the annular discillustrating the elevated area on that surface and its approximate sizerelation to the main surface area of the disc; and

FIGURE 5 shows the vertical peg or post which comprises the target forthe thrown disc.

Referring to the several views in the drawing wherein like charactersdesignate corresponding parts:

In FIGURE 1, the main portion of the top of the flat annular disc isshown as 1. On the surface is an elevated portion 2 with angular walls3. The circular aperture in the disc is represented by 4. In the sideelevation shown in FIGURE 2 the relation of the elevated portions of thedisc to the main body of the disc for both top and bottom surfaces isillustrated with the top surface characters corresponding to those shownin FIGURE 1. surface of the disc, 6 the elevated portion and 7 theangular wall of the elevated portion on the bottom of the disc. InFIGURE 3, showing the bottom of the disc the various elements aredesignated by characters corresponding to those shown in FIGURES 1 and2. Likewise in FIGURE 4 which is a perspective top view of the Inaddition, 5 represents the main bottom disc and the several elements ofthe top surface, the characters corresponding to the same elements shownin FIG- URES 1 and 2 apply here. The peg or post representing the targetfor the annular disc is illustrated as '8 in FIG- URE 5. As shown, theelevated sections on the top and 'bottom differ in size. They differboth in respect to their diameter and to their thickness. The heaviermass of the 'one contributes to flight stability while the air foilcontours of the sections afford longer flights.

Although the invention is not thereby restricted, I have found that aconvenient size disc may be about 11 inches in total diameter and about0.25 inch thick at its outermost edge, with a centered circular apertureof about 3.5 inches in diameter with a height of 0.375 inch for theelevated portion on the top surface and an angle of the wall of thisportion about 150 to the horizontal surface of the main top surface ofthe disc and a height of about 0.5 inch for the elevated portion on thebottom surface of the disc. The top surface of the elevated portion onthe top of the disc may be about 1.25 inches in width and the topsurface of the elevated portion on the bottom of the disc about 0.875inch in width. The angles that the sides of the beveled portions 2 and 6make with the rim or main body of the device are more than and arebetween about and 165". While these dimensions are not extremely orprecisely critical, they are preferred, with angles near being mostgenerally used, and represent a desirably operative embodiment of theinvention. Very good flight patterns are obtained with such dimensions.From the above and as shown in the drawings 'one elevated section has amean or average diameter significantly smaller than the mean diameter ofthe other elevated section, and one of said sections has a thicknesssignificantly-greater than that of the other.

The device can be made of a wide variety of materials. For example,papier-machefaluminum or other metals; polyformaldehyde; nylon; and thelike may be used. Generally, an inexpensive, lightweight durable plasticis used.

The discs may be constructed or fabricated of wood, metal or moldedplastics and if desired painted or otherwise decorated with radialstrips on the flat areas and port holes in the angular elevated portionof the top surface to simulate Flying Saucers or outerspace aircraft.

In using the annular disc the player will normally face the vertical pegor post partially embedded in the ground, grip the disc near its outeredge and impart a spinning flight toward the target by a back-hand tossor throw with the disc in a horizontal position. The speciallyconstructed angular walls of the elevated portions of the disc tend toassist in stabilizing the disc in its spinning flight and to preventskidding and bouncing when the disc strikes the ground.

It is to be appreciated that the device of this invention is quitedifferent from the ordinary quoit or horseshoe or the like which arethrown directly at the target. The dimensions of the device of thisinvention are such that it curves in flight. The curving is attained bythe beveled sections on the top and bottom of the device, the taperedrim and the differences in size and weight of these elements. The discflies substantially in a horizontal path that curves dependent mainlyupon the above elements but also to so'rne extent on the force andspeed. It is air-supported in its sidewise, curved flightforconsiderable distances due to its lightness and its tapered undersurface. teresting contest, for the game can be played by a variety ofnumbers in team play as well as in individual games.

While the invention has been described herein in connection with certainembodiments and certain structural details, it is clear that changes,modifications or equivalents can be used by those skilled in the art;accordingly,

These various factors make for an in:

such changes within the principles of this invention are intended to beincluded within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device comprising an annular, substantially rigid disc which isasymmetrical with reference to its horizontal axis and which has anelevated section on its top surface and an elevated section on itsbottom surface, each of said sections comprising less than one-half ofthe total surface area of its corresponding side and said sectionshaving annular walls relative to the horizontal surfaces of the disc andone of said sections having a mean diameter significantly smaller thanthe mean diameter of the other and one of said sections having athickness significantly greater than the thickness of the other of saidsections and said disc being substantially solid in its cross sectionand the angle of the wall of said elevated section on said top surfacebeing from about 100 to about 165 to the horizontal top surface of thedisc and the angle of the wall of said elevated section of said 4 bottomsurface being about 100 to about 165 to the horizontal bottom surface ofsaid disc.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 which contains in said disc acentered, circular aperture having a diameter of about one-third of thetotal diameter of the disc.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 158,918 1/1875DaCosta 273-100 1,513,968 11/ 1924 Crandall. 1,986,937 1/1935 MacGregor273-106 2,126,245 8/1938 Darby 273106 2,690,339 9/1954 Hall 273-1054 X-2,744,356 5/1956 Killinger et a1. 273106 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, PrimaryExaminer.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, DELBERT B. LOWE,

Examiners.

20 M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner.

1. A DEVICE COMPRISING AN ANNULAR, SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID DISC WHICH ISASYMMETRICAL WITH REFERENCE TO ITS HORIZONTAL AXIS AND WHICH HAS ANELEVATED SECTION ON ITS TOP SURFACE AND AN ELEVATED SECTION ON ITSBOTTOM SURFACE, EACH OF SAID SECTIONS COMPRISING LESS THAN ONE-HALF OFTHE TOTAL SURFACE AREA OF ITS CORRESPONDING SIDE AND SAID SECTIONSHAVING ANNULAR WALLS RELATIVE TO THE HORIZONTAL SURFACES OF THE DISC ANDONE OF SAID SECTIONS HAVING A MEANS DIAMETER SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER THANTHE MEAN DIAMETER OF THE OTHER AND ONE OF SAID SECTIONS HAVING ATHICKNESS SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER THAN THE THICKNESS OF THE OTHER OF SAIDSECTIONS AND SAID DISC BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SOLID IN ITS CROSS SECTIONAND THE ANGLE OF THE WALL OF SAID ELEVATED SECTION ON SAID TOP SURFACEBEING FROM ABOUT 100* TO ABOUT 165* TO THE HORIZONTAL TOP SURFACE OF THEDISC AND THE ANGLE OF THE WALL OF SAID ELEVATED SECTION OF SAID BOTTOMSURFACE BEING ABOUT 100* TO ABOUT 165* TO THE HORIZONTAL BOTTOM SURFACEOF SAID DISC.